The Triumphant

I want to try something. Every once in a while I want to examine an emotion. A feeling we all get from time to time, and try and really delve into it. In an effort to continue creating the identity of this place, I think I'll start off a little more positive than the level we may be accustomed to writing about.

Unfortunately, I haven't been taking pictures fast enough to keep up with the frantic new pace I'm pushing, so for the time being, a couple of National Geographic wallpapers will have to do. I've started using folders of them that change every five minutes as my desktop, and it's been really cool. I'm probably even going to get a subscription later this year. That is, if they promise not to sue my ass for using these photos.

So without further ado, here's a little piece on triumph.

¹tri·umph

noun \ˈtrī-əm(p)f\

plural tri·umphs\-əm(p)fs, -əm(p)s\

Definition of TRIUMPH

1

: a ceremony attending the entering of Rome by a general who had won a decisive victory over a foreign enemy — compare ovation 1

2

: the joy or exultation of victory or success

3

a : a victory or conquest by or as if by military force b : a notable success triumph>

I can't be alone in feeling like this word is more than just a fancy win. We don't drop the word triumph around a lot, and we're generally accurate with our usage. I can only think of two reasons for that. Either we genuinely respect the word, so we avoid using it when it's uncalled for, or we only think to recall the word from the brink of our vocabulary in rare cases, primarily when other words just won't capture what we mean.



It's a rare thing to truly feel like you've triumphed over something. I think of it as a true exertion of yourself over something else. That race you walked all over. That computer program that wouldn't do that thing you wanted it to do until you booted it. That test that will never be the same since you filled its SCANTRON holes. That dirty joke you just nailed. (Some of those are really thin puns). But in the end, there is no compromise in a triumph, no negotiated middleground. There's just you and what you wanted.



Of course, when I say "There's just you and what you wanted", that's not always the complete truth. Triumph often comes through painful, shocking sacrifice. That being said, to still reach the feeling of triumph after sacrificing more than you could have ever imagined can only mean that what you got was more important than you could ever verbalize.



To be honest, this is a difficult thing to write about. I'm challenged by this, which I think is indicative of how much focus is placed on the losses we face. If I've learned anything in my three years of non-Christian schooling, it's that most traits exist because of their benefit to the species. It's a dangerous tendency, but maybe, when controlled, focusing on our losses can be adaptive. Perhaps when we retain all of the negative, it makes our triumphs all the more salient. Our victories are sweeter when we can really appreciate how much we've had to overcome. And because we appreciate them more, we develop a stronger addiction to that rewarding feeling of triumph.

I'm just spitballing, here. But maybe there's something to it. Or maybe I'm off my rocker.

In other news:
Weather's getting cold
Life is still good
Remembrance Day is coming up
Clocks fall back Sunday

Does everybody have the Mediafire account and password information? And does everyone know how to use it?

Here's some stuff:
The Infanta - The Decemberists
I'm Coming Home - J.Cole
Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Jet - Paul McCartney & Wings

With a couple more over here.